Autumn Hearth

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Autumn Hearth drank Zingiber Ginger Coconut by Teavana

I have to apologize (mainly to myself) for not logging or even drinking much tea lately. I’m in a funk it seems, a combination of the heat, a kitchen that never manages to get fully clean, depression and working a few days at Teavana. I just haven’t felt like brewing most of July, which is a shame as I have a bunch of new Verdant Teas waiting to be tried :( Hopefully August will be a better month, but I’m not off to a good start, only drinking at work.

So this used to be one of my favorite dessert teas at work, I never bought any (heck I never bought any tea from work unless it was on sale) so I haven’t had any since April if not before then. Apparently it is now being promoted as a “top tier blend” with Maharaja Chai Oolong (another old favorite of mine). Our AGM made it for me with sugar of course, but it was good. Wafting the two teas together smells divine and it would be hard for any chai lover to resist, which is the point, its suggested for those that already love the Samurai/Ayurvedic combo. There are other suggestions for the samples that I am apparently going to have to learn, but that’s one I had several guests already coming back for, having smelled it early in the week. Sigh. Such mixed feelings, but tis a job.

2012-08-03 17:52:05 -0400

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Druid, artist, poet, mum, lover of tea, ritual and myth. I grew up on Celestial Seasons herbals but fell in love with straight loose leaf tea working at my local Teavana for a year. I am grateful for the introduction and the experience, but have moved on.

I see tea as an experience for the senses, I like to imagine tasting the land and the weather as well as the effect of sun, air, fire and the human hand. I have a soft spot for shu pu’er, yabao, scented oolongs, wuyi oolongs, taiwanese tea as well as smooth naturally sweet blacks, creamy greens and surprisingly complex whites.

I began ordering lots of samples from Upton to educate myself on different varieties of tea we didn’t have at work and have fallen head over heels for the unique offerings from Verdant Tea. I am learning things I like: buttery mouthfeel, surprising sweet or spice notes, woodiness, mineral notes, depth and complexity and things I don’t: astringency, dry and sour notes.

I collect tea tins and am in danger of collecting pots, though I am trying to restrain the urge due to current lack of space. I brew mostly in a glass infuser mug or a tea maker, only using cast-iron for company now (still need to get a gaiwan) and tend not to sweeten my teas unless they are British or fruity and iced, which is not often.

As far as ratings, I lack a definite system and haven’t been assigning numbers lately, wanting to spend multiple sessions with a tea first. I usually only log a tea once, unless it is a new harvest or I have significantly different observations, but will go back and edit or comment if I find something interesting or new.